Five bodies were recovered from the ocean during a three-hour operation conducted by crew members on a cruise ship. Passengers aboard the Sapphire Princess were informed that the ship was changing course after a lifejacket was sighted in the western Mediterranean Sea on April 21 at 6pm European Summer Time.
Video footage captured the retrieval of a male body wearing a purple top and black shorts, which was carefully transferred onto the ship after being examined by medical personnel. Subsequently, another orange life jacket was spotted at 7:47pm, leading to the retrieval of a second body. Three more bodies were later recovered from the water, bringing the total to five.
An anonymous passenger expressed sadness over the incident, noting the shock and sorrow felt by everyone on board. The crew handled the situation with professionalism, providing counseling to passengers. The recovered individuals are believed to be migrants.
The Sapphire Princess, carrying over three thousand passengers, was sailing between Spain and North Africa and docked in Cartagena, Spain, on April 22. The cruise, which commenced near Rome, Italy, on April 19, is expected to conclude in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 3.
Princess Cruises confirmed the events, stating that the crew swiftly responded to the sighting of the life jacket and cooperated with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center to recover the deceased individuals. The company offered condolences for the loss and commended the crew for their prompt actions.
